Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1887-08-20
Another Phase OF the Matter.

hnotHCT ndSC vi thC 4'AotSCh'
Much has been said and written lately
concerning the tendency of young men to
grow up without learning trades. 1t has
been suggested that the discrimination
against those following the trades. by $50
ciety," has been one Of the great causes
that has tended to prevent young men from
doing as young men of fifty years ago did
The consequences of such course of
things have been clearly and emphatically
pointed out. Yet in the discussion of the
matter, it seems that one cause has been
partially overlooked; that it has not been
emphasized enough. 1t is one which
cannot be charged to society" however
much that is to blame, but to labor itself
There has been steady revolution in
labor for the last half century. 1t has been
growing more and more. distinct factor
1t has organized thoroughly and has in
stituted protective measures which when
considered carefully are very injurious to
itself. 1t has carried It's authority beyond
itself and has desig ated certain llmta-
lions which in this tree country are not
in harmony with the principles Of its gov
eminent. Trades Unions and Trade Asso-
Citations have been following courses in
which may be found one cause for the
tendency of young men with re-
lation to apprenticeship. A few Illus
trations of the actions of trade asso-
Citations in regard to this matter will be
sufficient. The report, July 7, of the
fourth annual meeting of the Pittsburg
National Window Glass Workers Asso-
citation, says: "A western delegate pro-
posed TO allow limited number of APP
prentices, the chief merit of the plan
being that only relatives of the present
operatives De allowed to become appren-
tees" Under date of Birmingham, CT,
July 4. dispatch states that strike was
probable among the cutlery grinders OF
New England, the grinders 'being mostly
English. who admit only their sons or
near relatives to learn the trade" A
Philadelphia dispatch, of July II. notices
a strike at the rug and carpet factory OF
Bromley & Sons. the cause being 1.-The re-
fusal of the firm to dismiss a learner of
the trade" A Chicago dispatch of June
%, last year. says that, ''at meeting OF
ham canvas sewers, measures were
adopted to keep novices out" And
Chicago paper of this, year reports a
meeting to form a carpet-layers union.
one object being "to keep unskilled men
out of the business" These are enough to
demonstrate the position of labor itself.
Such position must be taken at great
cost to not only the various trades but
also labor The secret of the great adj
vancement of mechanical arts lies in the
former freedom with which apprentices
were admitted to the trades. New brains
have been the life of mechanics. the pro-
ducers of the greatest inventions and the
discoveries of new fields of labor. In
thus preventing young men from engag-
ing in the trades. labor organizations are
following the course pursued by the
artisans of Egypt who, dying. carried
their wonderful knowledge of mechanics
with them The simple fact that relatives
are admitted is not sufficient to excuse the
course. The chances for improvement in
the way of doing things are not increased.
1t is only an insurance that ruts will be
followed. But there is another side to the
matter. 1t is n side that must be viewed
from the broad principles of the constitu-
ton. 1t is indsputably the birthright of
every American boy to learn and practice
any trade or occupation which he may de-
sire. or for which he is fitted. tits accept
ed by American citizens "that life, liberty
and the pursuit of happiness are unalien
able rights" of all. Such a course as that
indicated by these illustrations tends to
the creation of hereditary and aristocratic
classes: the children of carpenters must
be carpenters; the children of the day Ia
borer must never rise above the station of
their father; farmers boys must be farm
erS. Ii matters not What tne rauo OF tue
followers of any occupation or the prac-
TIGERS OF any trade may be to the demand,
nor does it matter what the inclinations
and adaptabilities of boys may be, the rules
that are being established must be fol-
lowed. The inability of young men to
find .'chances" in which to learn trades. is
partly thus explained; the organizations
advocating these exclusive measures con-
troll the firms by whom their members are
employed. and when application is made
for position, even ii vacancies occur, a
discrimination is liable to be made in IA
vor OF the views of the employees. Young
men can't learn trades when the trades are